Supporting frame for fluid tanks



March 29, 1960 G. H. KING 2,930,562

SUPPORTING FRAME FOR FLUID TANKS Filed Oct. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 29, 1960 G. H. KING 2,930,562

SUPPORTING FRAME FOR FLUID TANKS Filed Oct. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IA 9 IA \Ei/ o e a I I I 4 m INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,930,562 SUPPORTING FRAME FOR FLUID TANKS Gerald H. King, Rock Island, Ill. Application October 8, 1958, Serial No. 766,062 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-152) My invention relates to a rectangular frame to be mounted upon four posts which can be supplied with the frame or erected by the user, to carry barrels or tanks of water, oil, fuel or other fluids for use on farms, at filling stations, motels, etc.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple, light, strong, rectangular frame with or without four posts upon which it can readily be carried and which may be erectedby any farmer or workman of ordinary ability to aiford a firm, stable support at the desired height for cylindrical tanks or other containers for fluids in common use for fuel, lubrication or other purposes.

I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my rectangular top frame;

Figure 2 is a fractional elevation of one of the end bars of my frame with a part of the near end plate broken away to disclose remaining parts;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of my top frame;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the frame mounted on supporting posts with a tank resting upon the frame.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My frame is composed of end cradle bars 1-1 of iron, steel, aluminum or other suitable material to which angle side bars 44 are secured by screws 99 or by welding to the cradle bars. The side bars 4-4 are preferably about six inches in vertical height with horizontal flanges approximately two inches in Width extending inwardly and united to the top plates 11.

Each cradle bar has an inner plate 2 and an outer plate 2 either integral therewith or united thereto by welding, soldering, or other suitable means.

The ends of the top plates 11 are turned downwardly in vertical position as at 1A. The top plate 1 is curved downwardly to form a cradle-shape to conform to the periphery of the tank to be held thereon.

The various plates may be of any desired width, but I prefer to have the top plates about four inches wide and the down-turned ends thereof to extend downwardly about six inches.

The inner and outer end plates 2-2' are about six inches in width at the ends and are formed to correspond to the curve of the cradles.

. About four inches from the down-turned ends 1A of the top plates 1-1, metal plates 3-3 are inserted and may be welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the top plates 11 and to the end plates 22'. When so arranged, the corners of the frame form four inch by four inch chambers, six inches in height to receive and secure the tops of posts 6 which may be of hard wood or other suitable material. Such posts can be erected by a farmer or other workman in the proper spaced relation to cor respond to the corner chambers and the frame mounted thereon with the tops of the posts firmly seated in the corner chambers as described, or may be provided by the makers of the top frames. The cradle plates will rest securely upon the tops of the posts.

The top frame may be erected with one end a little higher than the other so the tank will slope downwardly to the outlet end thereof to facilitate draining the tank through theport 11 which may be fitted with a faucet or other suitable form of outlet.

Diagonal braces 6'6' may be attached to the posts to strengthen them and if desired, a shelf 5 may be secured in the lower part of the posts upon crossbars 7 having open sides and usable to store an additional tank of fluid when desired.

Various modifications may be made in the material, form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as covered by the claim and I do not limit my claim to the precise forms shown in the drawings.

I claim:

A support for cylindrical fluid containers comprising a rectangular metal top frame having a flat concave cradle bar at the top of each end thereof with inner and outer vertical plates united to each side thereof with their upper edges formed to correspond to the concave curve of the cradle bars which are curved to correspond to the periphery-of a cylindrical fluid container intended to be supported thereby each end of the cradle bars being turned downwardly at a right angle to the top thereof, longitudinal sidebars united to the cradle bars and the downturned portions thereof and having inturned flanges at their upper edges, short additional metal plates rigidly secured to the cradle bars and to the inner and outer plates connected therewith and extending downwardly as far as the downturned ends of the cradle bars,said additional plates with the downturned ends of the cradle bars and the adjacent portions of the inner and outer plates forming chambers or sockets at all four corners of the frame.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,765 Ormerod Dec. 13, 1892 2,579,685 Loose Dec. 25, 1951 2,775,360 Phillips Dec. 25, 1956 2,844,344 Streb July 22, 1958 

